The National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) has called for a regulated product stewardship program for batteries by 2020.
It has called on the Federal Environment Minister to broaden the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) to include all types of handheld batteries up to five kilograms.
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Under the NTCRS, more than 1800 collection services are available to the public which could be used to include batteries, according to NWRIC.
Lithium ion batteries pose hazards in kerbside recycling bins, potentially leading to spontaneous combustion if pierced due to mechanical handling in waste collection trucks and recycling facilities.
Lithium, nickel, lead and cadmium are finite resource in waste batteries that can be highly recyclable if correctly separated.
According to the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative only three per cent of batteries are recycled, with 70 per cent being sent to landfill.
NWRIC said that such a low recycling rate means regulator intervention is the only option.
“With a combination of sensible regulation, targeted investment and consumer education, almost all of Australia’s used batteries can be safely recycled. This would reduce the risk of fires at recycling facilities and minimise the contamination of compost,” NWRIC said in a release.
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